Retired justice nominates all 14 SC justices for Chief Justice post

In an unprecedented move, a former member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has nominated all 14 incumbent justices of the Supreme Court (SC) for the post vacated by ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

“As a restored member of the bench, I believe that only through the leadership of one of the present members of the highest court could the court be unified to address the challenges which arose from the recent unfolding of events,” retired Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Raoul Victorino said in his letter to the JBC.

Victorino made the move in the absence of applications to fill the post vacated by Sereno.

“In my humble opinion, an action in this direction would not only steer the judiciary to the right path, but also, and more important, it would motivate the High Court as a whole to further work together in fulfilling its Constitutional mandate,” Victorino said.

By tradition, the five most senior justices are automatically nominated for the post of Chief Justice.

The five most senior justices are:

• Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio,
• Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr.,
• Teresita Leonardo De Castro,
• Diosdado Peralta, and
• Lucas Bersamin.

The remaining justices include:

• Mariano C. Del Castillo,
• Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe,
• Marvic F. Leonen,
• Francis H. Jardeleza,
• Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa,
• Samuel R. Martires,
• Noel G. Tijam, and
• the most junior members Andres B. Reyes Jr. and Alexander G. Gesmundo.

The deadline for submission of applications and nominations for the chief justice post is on July 26.

However, insiders said there are still no aspirants for the job.

Under the JBC rules, a nomination can only be considered if there is a conforme or the nomination has been accepted.

Carpio has already wrote a letter to the JBC declining his nomination.

The JBC will have its first deliberation on the chief justice vacancy on August 3.   /vvp